Students from across Queensland unite at Longreach

Western Alliance students work together with Mrs Kim Sullivan. The students have come together from the Mt Isa School of the Air, Charleville School of Distance Education and the Longreach School of Distance Education.

Distance education is a vital service to families in regional, rural and isolated areas of our vast country. In the coming months Queensland Country Life will shine a light on the students who benefit from this innovative and important education experience and the staff who meet the challenge of working in what could be considered Queensland’s biggest classroom. Below is the first of our coverage as students from the Western Alliance come together for the year’s very first Multischool in Longreach. Teacher Amy Cochrane describes the significance of this event:

This year from March 20 until 24 students will gather in Longreach for the first Multischool of 2017. The students attending this event are part of the Western Alliance, which offers distance education to students across Australia, particularly the Western corridor of Queensland. The Alliance is the secondary department for individuals who are enrolled through Longreach and Charleville Schools of Distance Education as well as Mount Isa School of the Air.

Western Alliance students standing behind their Andy Goldsworthy inspired artwork.

The week brings students and teachers together, who is some cases, have never met face-to-face before. Their time in Longreach is spent engaging in ‘mainstream style’ classes along with extra-curricular events including excursions, art sessions and also sporting activities such as archery.

Year 7 Maths students and their teacher Mrs Owczarek enjoy the experience of sitting in a classroom face to face.

Great distances are travelled to be part of Multischool, some coming from as far East as Brisbane, Camooweal in the West, Burketown to the North and as far south as Barringun.

The event is a highlight of Semester 1 and it is thoroughly enjoyed by all participants.